The difference
Between WordPress.com
and WordPress.org
If you’re just starting out with WordPress you’ve probably been asking yourself, like so many others, “What’s the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?” This is probably the number one question I get when I tell people I make WordPress sites and themes. So which version is right for you? Here is a quick explanation and some clear comparisons to help you decide.
What’s the difference?
A great analogy would be renting your home versus buying.
.com
When you rent, you aren’t responsible for any of the maintenance or repairs of your home. The landlord takes care of those things for you. However, renovations or major remodelling are off-limits. On WordPress.com, you’re restricted with what you can do, but the site’s maintenance, like updating WordPress, and security, are taken care of for you.
.org
When you own your home, you are in control of your property and can do any renovations you want. But you’re also responsible for any maintenance and repairs that creep up. With WordPress.org, you’ll need to host your own site, meaning paying a hosting company. The advantage here is you now have the freedom to customize your site and features as you wish. However, you also have the responsibility to maintain your site and keep it secure.
Automatic updates
.com
Yes
Choosing a site with WordPress.com means you don’t have to worry about updates. It’s all taken care of for you.
.org
Depends
Self-hosted sites do allow you to set up automatic updates for WordPress, plugins and themes, but these can also be disabled.
Site Backups
.com
Yes
Your site crashing without a proper backup is a hard lesson to learn. With a WordPress.com site there’s no need to worry. It’s all taken care of for you.
.org
No
With WordPress.org on the other hand, setting up backups is your job. There are many plugins out there that do a great job of this such as UpdaftPlus or Vaultpress. Your hosting company might even offer their own version of this depending on your package.
Plugin Installation
.com
Depends
Although WordPress.com has dozens of built-in features, installing your own is possible depending on the plan you chose. Basic free plans don’t allow it.
.org
Yes
If you want to customize your site without restrictions, WordPress.org (self-hosted) is the way to go. But make sure your plugins come from reputable and well-rated authors!
Theme Installation
.com
Depends
WordPress.com has an impressive selection of themes. Each was carefully selected based on their design and features. Some are free, some are premium. Depending on the plan you signup for, you can now upload your own themes downloaded or purchased elsewhere.
.org
Yes
With a self-hosted, WordPress.org sites, you can choose from almost any theme out there. But as with plugins, not all themes are created equal so make sure you buy from a reputable theme seller.
Custom Domain
.com
Depends
When you register a site with WordPress.com your default domain will look something like yourgroovysite.wordpress.com. Upgrading your plan allows you to register your own domain (yourgroovysite.com).
.org
Yes
With a WordPress.org site, registering your own domain is a must in order to get your site up and running. You can do this through your hosting company or a domain registrar.
3
Reasons to go
with WordPress
.com
- You don’t need to be tech savvy.
- No need to worry about signing up for a domain and hosting.
- Need help? They’ve got your back with their amazing customer support.
- Full rein over your site and its setup. You’re fully in charge.
- Go crazy installing any plugin you want (but not too crazy).
- Get the exact look you want for your site with the choice of any theme.
3
Reasons to go
with WordPress
.org
Whether you choose WordPress.com or WordPress.org depends on you and your goals as a site owner. Ultimately, both options offer great features and benefits, so it’s up to you to decide which one is the best fit for your website.
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